What would your reaction be to a "pre-emptive" attack on Iran by ISRAEL . . ?

[defendandprotect]

Poll question: What would your reaction be to a "pre-emptive" attack on Iran by ISRAEL . . ?

Israel hints at pre-emptive attack on Iran
By Rupert Cornwell in Washington
Friday, 11 July 2008

The sabre-rattling over Iran's nuclear progamme has grown louder as a defiant Tehran claimed to have conducted missile tests for a second day running, the US warned that it would defend its interests and its allies in the region, and Israel hinted it was ready to stage a preventive attack to destroy Iranian nuclear installations.


With the latest tests – and the wide front-page coverage given to them by the national media – Tehran is signalling it will not be cowed by international pressure to end a programme which the West suspects is aimed at producing nuclear weapons, and that any attack by the US or Israel will be answered in kind.

The tests, including launching the 1,250-mile range Shahab-3 missile that can hit Israel, should be "a lesson to our enemies", the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard was quoted as saying. But some of the talk may be bravado. Pentagon officials told CNN that surveillance suggested only a single missile was fired yesterday, apparently one that failed to launch on Wednesday.

Even so, the show of strength drew an unprecedentedly blunt response from Washington and Israel. No one should doubt US resolve, said Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, on a visit to Georgia. "We are sending a message to Iran that we will defend American interests and the interests of our allies."

More ominously, Ehud Barak, the Israeli Defence Minister, noted pointedly that while diplomatic pressure remained the preferred way of persuading Iran to halt uranium enrichment, Israel "has proved in the past it is not afraid to take action when its vital security interests are at stake".


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-hints-at-preemptive-attack-on-iran-865068.html

[PM7nj]

1. My reaction: Oh shit. Here comes World War III. nt

[no limit]

2. American reaction: This is outrageous! Oh hey, american idol is on.

[Windy]

10. Until gas goes up to 10.00 per gallon!

[no limit]

18. Even with $10 a gallon I could bet you that close to half of this country would still be dumb enough

to vote republican.

Republicans have been running on a platform that is counter to the interest of most of the population. And look at the control they continue to have.

[JustAnotherGen]

14. Wish I could Rec

This post alone! :rofl: Thanks for the chuckle - so true so true. :-)

[AndyTiedye]

17. Has It Occurred to You That the "American Idol" Watchers Feel as Powerless as We Do?

You are mistaking despair for apathy.

[Real_Talk]

3. it all depends

If Israel has good reason to think that it will be attacked then it is right to defend themselves.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. A pre-emptive strike is not the same as defending themselves...

It is one thing to be ready, but to strike before you've been struck is far from defending oneself, IMHO.

[hack89]

8. So Poland would have been wrong

to attack Hitler's armies massing on their borders in 1939? Do you really believe that if one country observes another preparing to attack they still have to wait even though it could guarantee their total defeat and lead to the deaths of many of their citizens?

All you would do is give the true aggressor the ability to prepare a massive attack with impunity.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. No, I would not say Poland was wrong...

Obviously, when armies are gathering on one's borders, attack is imminent.

But when all there is is talk, then, that's a much different situation.

It is a matter of degrees.

[no limit]

20. I wasn't aware that Iran's army was gathering at Israel's border.

:shrug:

[hack89]

23. I was addressing the general case

not the specific. The poster seem to say that a preemptive attack was not justified in any situation.

[defendandprotect]

33. A "pre-emptive" attack is not self-defense . . . and we have a United Nations

which can clearly judge what's going on ---

and find other remedies which wouldn't lead to WWIII --- which should, I suggest, be

of some importance to us . . . !!!

[tburnsten]

34. UN is kind of a joke

I don't know if I would ever trust the UN to get anything right, not even clearly determine if my shoes are tied. I doubt anyone would be willing to engage in world war three in the name of protecting Iran, they are pretty isolationist in their foreign policies aren't they?

[defendandprotect]

69. The United Nations has been under constant attack since the beginning . .

this is purposeful -- and the doing of the right-wing which doesn't want peace and an

end to warmongering.

The United Nations has been useful, especially in the beginning days ---

but then came the assassination of Dag Hammarsjkold, for one . . .

Latest attempts were to put Bolton in there to destroy it ---

not much left of it, but they continue to attack it because they know that people

want peace.

Iran is in the ME which means they are living under policies that America put in place long

ago --- including knocking out their "nationalist" government -- and putting in the Shah.

Except for their trying to hold our government/CIA responsible for much of their misery

in the toppling of the Shah -- and their holding Americans prisoner for more than a year ---

they are not an aggressive nation in the concept of attacking their neighbors.

Iraq attacked them.

There is still enough religous fanatacism in the country however to make me believe what

Galloway is saying . . . they will respond if attacked.

[hack89]

37. The UN? are you kidding?

Lets not forget all the despots and other un-democratic regimes that are members of the UN. Peace is not necessarily the most important thing on their mind - lets look at Darfur, Somalia and Zimbabwe as recent examples.


Are you really saying that Poland could not have legitimately attacked Hitler's armies before they crossed the Polish border.

[me b zola]

39. Your analogy points to the US

WE--the US--are on the borders of Iran and threatening.

If anything, your analogy gives reason for Iran to strike US first.

[hack89]

46. You are right

but Iran is not that stupid.

[defendandprotect]

73. No . . . but WE are . . . !!!

After we exploded nuclear weapons all over the Bikini Islands in "tests" . . .

A woman from Bikini said:---

"Americans are really smart about really stupid things..." --


Yes, those in charge of our government continue to follow their

brutal, inane, ignorant, arrogant, impulses -- which are suicidal for us all.

[defendandprotect]

71. I agree --- and if we had a UN which was still working to prevent wars . . .

that would be the conclusion . . . that the US is the AGGRESSOR here . .

Hard to believe now, but, just before the whole W/Sharon thing took off again . . .

the UN was getting to deal with "aggression," itself.

How long ago that was!

Kind of like trying to remember peace, stability and the surplus!!!


Loved your comments!

[me b zola]

90. I could be wrong (I often am)

But I think where the UN went off the tracks was when they granted a handful of nations (the US is one of the handful) the power to block what the body of the UN wants. It is inconceivable to say that certain nations are so "moral" and "trustworthy" that they are always right.

[defendandprotect]

94. I'll have to look up all of this one day . . . but . . .

the original set up, IMO, was quite under the control of the US ---

and everything went our way.

Later, given our aggression all over the world, they tried to block us.

We also would now and then cause a Secretary General to move on before their time ---

It looks like Dag Hammarskjold was actually assassinated.

THAT was the United Nations that we needed!


Remember, also, that the Vatican is in there screwing up whatever they can ---

they're recognized as a "sovereign nation" . . .

Imagine that . . . a one square mile nation of all males!

But, while they don't have one of the regular votes, they've had a lot of power in

blocking birth control stuff --- especially now in the past years with pal W in the

Oval Office! W and Vatican boys together are quite destruction . . . as with our

"faith-based" dollars going in to the hands of the Catholic Church! Favors back and

forth between the boys.


The Republicans have run legislation twice, at least, which asks for the United Nations

to get out of NYC! I don't think the public has heard much about that over the years.


Also, the GOP was withholding our dues from the United Nations for a long period of

time --- I don't know if we're actually paid up at this point. All intended to do harm.



While they can't do much --- and we don't hear much about them from corporate-media ---

they did condemn or censor Poppy Bush for PANAMA ---

and the Secretary General called W's Gulf War II -- an "illegal" war.

They've also condemned Israel for "waging a full scale war on Palestinians."

[defendandprotect]

70. See post above . . . #69 . . .

As a concept, the United Nations could have worked and was working at one time ---

That's why the right-wing fights it --


Re Poland . . . you are ignoring the fact that Iran is not sitting on our borders waiting

to attack us. Nor has Iran attacked anyone, unlike Hitler and his record!

[Radical Activist]

44. The beauty of the war against terror

is that there are no armies that amass along any border. It could happen at any time at any place without warning. So no evidence is required for a preemptive attack because we all know the terrorists are out there.

Preemptive attack is just a euphemism for a war of aggression. Much like "liberation" is a euphemism for violent occupation.

[Bandit]

59. Awww.."The Bush* Doctrine" in a nutshell

People are so very easily mislead.

[defendandprotect]

74. The war on terror is simply the new "reds under your beds" . . .the new communism . . .

and it amazes me that people don't question how it was that they didn't have to

give up their Constitution during WWII, during the Cold War ---

Terra has no nation --- but every bed is suspect!!!

[PerfectSage]

84. That reminds me, Sometimes I call the war on terrorism, the war of neocon aggression.

[harun]

80. Iran != Nazi Germany

Nor does Iran even border Israel.

[Bandit]

60. Please name a time when Iran has shown hostile intentions

I am speaking of the country in official catagory and not a bunch of University students holding americans captive...When was the last time they attacked any country when they were not attacked first? Why do you believe everything from the Administration when all facts available dispute it?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

67. no it doesnt. i can think you are going to attack me, doesnt give me the right to shoot you down

on a larger scale, this is still true.

[defendandprotect]

75. ...except maybe in the new gun-ridding Wild West America . . . ????

maybe in Disney land . . . .

:eyes:

[fascisthunter]

92. perfect analogy

[Fumesucker]

4. Cheers: Is-ray-el, Is-ra-el..

:sarcasm:

[awoke_in_2003]

6. The same reaction I would have

if Iran pre-emptively attacked Israel. I have no love for either nation, but they do have a right to defend themselves. I would also probably buy a bike- because gas prices would go out of control.

[PerfectSage]

7. OTHER: BS Iran is being punished for not selling oil in US dollars.

Enrichment is just the BS reason that the media and the public will for accept attacking Iran.

"By December 8, 2007, Iran reported to have converted all of its oil export payments to non-dollar currencies"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Oil_Bourse

[roamer65]

11. Let Israel sink or swim alone.

[defendandprotect]

76. Israel wouldn't be pulling any of this without US approval . .. arms . .

Nixon armed right-wing religious Fundamentalists ---

at this point it is almost impossible to tell the difference between US weapons production

and Israeli weapons production --- !!!

What is this really about . . . ???

Our using right-wing crazies in Israel to gain control over the Middle East ---

[DJ13]

12. I would advocate the immediate revokation of ALL US aid to Israel

I would also put a trade embargo on them.

[Jim__]

13. That was my immediate reaction.

But, to our national disgrace, the US Congress would stand up and salute.

[IDemo]

19. You would have an easier task impeaching the White House chef

Simply not gonna happen.

[defendandprotect]

77. Israel weapons production is intertwined with US weapons production --- !!!

..."almost indistinguishable" . . .

[LeftishBrit]

15. Against all pre-emptive attacks. And also don't think it will happen.

[two gun sid]

22. I agree with you. Against pre-emptive war

and don't believe it'll happen.

[AndyTiedye]

16. Israel Will Provide the Pretext for a US Invasion

It won't just be airplanes, either.

They need boots on the ground, millions of them, because they want to take over Iran for its oil. Just like Iraq.

[IDemo]

21. Why does no one mention this?

After all we've been through with Iraq, and with Iran holding massive reserves of oil and natural gas, how can there be any question that regime change followed by no-bid contracts for US oil majors is precisely what they are after?

[hack89]

24. Except there aren't millions of boots to put on the ground

so perhaps your scenario is somewhat implausible at the moment.

[AndyTiedye]

26. They Will Start Up the Draft

[hack89]

27. So you are talking about an attack 2 or 3 years from now?

because just how long to you think it will take for Congress to approve the draft, for a draft to be held, for the army to train all those draftees, and to buy all the stuff those draftees will need to fight with?

Do you really think that a Democratic congress will approve a draft? I don't think so.

[AndyTiedye]

31. AIPAC Can Make Congress Approve ANYTHING

Remember that AIPAC infiltrated the NSA, so they likely have access to everything the NSA is tapped into.

[hack89]

32. It will still take at least 2 years before those draftees can fight. nt

[Douglas Carpenter]

53. I think that is a gross exaggeration

Don't get me wrong. I am a very strong critic of Israel and a loyal friend of the Palestinians.

It certainly is true that the pro-Israeli lobby has a great deal of power and influence that has played a major role of shaping the debate and sometimes silencing it.

But the Israeli lobby led by AIPAC is NOT all powerful. If they were, the U.S. would have bombed Iran already.

Let's take for example the infamous case of Jonathan Pollard, the convicted Israeli spy. He is still sitting in prison and there seems little chance of his release in spite of constant campaigns by the Israel lobby that has gone on for more than 20 years.

Although Congress will pass its annual ludicrous resolution calling for moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and practically every Presidential candidate says they will do it and have for the past 30 years. It has never happened and it will not happen until the final status of Jerusalem is resolved.

It may be fair to say that AIPAC is a VERY powerful lobby. It may be fair to even say that they are arguably the most powerful single lobbying organization in Washington, D.C.

But when push comes to shove, America still has its own interest. AIPAC can only be successful in pursuing their agenda to the extent that they can convince the United States that doing so is in American interest.

An attack on Iran will result in the destruction of the American economy and the end of America's preeminent role in the world. This would remove any veneer that Israel's interest is America's interest. That is one of the reasons I do not believe it will happen.

[Behind the Aegis]

86. Paranoid much?

I love how you and others see AIPAC as the "boogeyman" for all things bad.

[AndyTiedye]

89. With Some Justification When It Comes to Iran

http://www.counterpunch.org/khan05262007.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/round-to-aipac-on-iran-p_b_43302.html

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060814/aipacs_hold

Though they must share boogeyman honors with Darth Cheney.
When it comes to Iran, it is sometimes difficult to tell when Cheney's baleful influence ends and AIPAC's begins.

[defendandprotect]

78. Planned long, long ago --

See "Three Days of the Condor" ---

Sometimes repeats on AMC --- see all of it ---

[Retired AF Dem]

25. What if all the Israeli pilots are gay

protecting their gay brothers that are being persecuted in Iran? On a more serious note, maybe, just maybe Iran should stop egging Israel on.

[spin]

30. You forget the Sacred Band of Thebes

Sacred Band of Thebes (ancient Greek: 'Ιερός Λόχος τών Θηβών Hierós Lókhos tón Thebón; the holy strike-force of Thebes) was a troop of picked soldiers, numbering 150 age-structured pairs which formed the elite force of the Theban army in the 4th century BC.<1> It was organized by the Theban commander Gorgidas in 378 BC and it played a crucial role in the Battle of Leuctra, and was completely annihilated in the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC.

Plutarch reports that the Sacred Band consisted of homosexual couples and the reason was that lovers would fight more fiercely and more cohesively at each other's sides than would strangers with no ardent bonds. So according to Plutarch (in his Life of Pelopidas<2>), the inspiration for the Band's formation came from Plato’s Symposium, wherein the character Phaedrus remarks:

And if there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their loves, they would be the very best governors of their own city, abstaining from all dishonour, and emulating one another in honour; and when fighting at each other's side, although a mere handful, they would overcome the world. For what lover would not choose rather to be seen by all mankind than by his beloved, either when abandoning his post or throwing away his arms? He would be ready to die a thousand deaths rather than endure this. Or who would desert his beloved or fail him in the hour of danger? <3>

***************snip*********************

After the Theban general Pelopidas recaptured the acropolis of Thebes in 379 BC, he assumed command of the Sacred Band in which he fought alongside his good friend, Epaminondas. It was Pelopidas who formed these couples into a distinct unit: he “never separated or scattered them, but would stand the brunt of battle, using them as one body.”<5> They became, in effect, the “crack” force of Greek soldiery <6>, and the forty years of their known existence (378 – 338 BC) marked the pre-eminence of Thebes as a military and political power in late-classical Greece.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Band_of_Thebes

I do agree with you on Iran provoking Israel. Perhaps they're doing it to pump up the price of oil, or maybe so that they can cause the return of the 12th Imam.

According to Shi'ite Muslim teaching, Abul-Qassem Mohammad, the 12th leader whom Shi'ites consider descended from the Prophet Mohammed, disappeared in 941 but will return at the end of time to lead an era of Islamic justice.

"Our revolution's main mission is to pave the way for the reappearance of the 12th Imam, the Mahdi," Ahmadinejad said in the speech to Friday Prayers leaders from across the country.
http://www.iranian.ws/cgi-bin/iran_news/exec/view.cgi/13/10945

Unfortunately religion fanaticism often results in war.

I seriously doubt any gay men in Israel would go to war over gay men in Iran. But if all the Israeli pilots were gay, they might form one hell of a cohesive strike force. If I was Iranian, I wouldn't want a group like that attacking my country. If they succeeded it would be very embarrassing at the minimum.

[shadowknows69]

48. Sacred Band of Thebes would be a great name for a band

[Clark2008]

66. Iran is provoking Israel?

How? By saying a bunch of WORDS?

I think it's the other way around. Israel flies over Iran - sometimes bombs something - and has the ear of a superpower (the US).

Iran has a president who has very little actual power who may say some stupid things occasionally.

How is Iran provoking Israel?

[defendandprotect]

79. Like the Palestinians are "egging" Israel on . . . ???

[LWolf]

28. I'm "against all preemptive attacks," and I believe it will happen.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article4322508.ece

[zanne]

29. We have become Israel's bitch...

If Israel attacks Iran, we would be obliged to support Israel with out troops.

[defendandprotect]

35. Think that's the other way around . . .

Nixon armed right-wing religiously fanatically Israel to get where we are now .

Peace-loving Israelis have been subdued ---

It's now about what we're about --- fanatical warprofiteering ---

Israel's weapon manufacturing so so intertwined with America's that it's impossible

to tell the difference between them.

Obviously, Sharon was egged on --- winked out --- in the original break out attacks

immediately after Bush was put in the Oval Office by the Supreme Gang of 5---

[zanne]

56. Can you please recommend a way for me to get educated....

The Israel-Palestinian conflict is so confusing and becomes more complicated by the day. Can you think of a website with some basic information that would make it easier to understand?

[defendandprotect]

62. My sympathies . . . I feel the same way you do ---

I have pretty much found helpful info by accident ---

Basically, we seem to be financing -- so they can buy weapons --- and arming much of the right-wing

religiously fanatical of the world.

That was true when we created the Taliban . . . via our CIA . . . and sent US troops into

Afghanistan six months before the Russians came in . . . and we did it in order to BAIT the

Russians in . . . in hopes of giving them a Vietnam-type experience---!!!

How does that sound for US policy to spread "democracy" around the world --- ???



Of course, much of the history of this Israel thing is tied up with our own right-wing

governments -- and IMO we've been using them to give us a way to move into the Middle East.

As for info/website . . . perhaps someone will jump in here and offer some help.


My directions would be to look for reliable sources -- Sy Hersh, for one.

Greg Palast, for another.

and most of all Amy Goodman at "Democracy Now!" --- she is excellent!

[defendandprotect]

36. I'm remaining hopeful that either Israel or US will be STOPPED . . .

[newmajority]

38. I can only hope the Israeli people realize they are being lied to

And above all, should Olmert be forced out of office soon, prevent NuttyYahoo or any similar fascist warmonger from taking his place.

I believe they still have actual elections in Israel. There must be another decent Labour candidate out there somewhere. They should outlaw the Likud party for the sake of their own safety and sanity.

[defendandprotect]

64. I think they have the same problem we do . . . no one listening to citizens . . .

Israel's liberal/progressives have been subdued in the same way the anti-war movement in

America has been sidelined and ignored.

Much of the right-wing leadership are responsible for the assassination of Rabin . . . !

[Breeze54]

40. I'd be fucking PISSED OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[Strelnikov_]

41. Convert my savings into a stockpile of barter goods

Boy howdy quick.

Just after I finish laying in a 200 gal. stockpile of diesel, of course.

[lonestarnot]

45. Which would be?

[shadowknows69]

50. Food, salt, sugar, batteries, cigarettes

These things will be gold.

[Dogtown]

87. Ammunition

.22 caliber and 12 Ga shotshells.

Great for barter as well as subsistence hunting.

[Strelnikov_]

57. Look to consumables that are used on a daily basis

I plan on being known as the 'soap guy' after the smash.

Soap (bath/dish/laundry), rice, beans, batteries, basic medical products (alcohol, peroxide, neosporin, pain killers, pepto-bismol). Shovels, hoes, . . .

And the big one, Vitamin C, considering that all ascorbic acid is now produced in China.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

42. I would immediately top off my gas tank, for starters.

[shadowknows69]

49. good call, do it quick.

Next stop, bulk foods

[EbenezerMcIntosh]

43. I would say that Congress should declare war on Israel for starting an illegal war. (nt)

[Douglas Carpenter]

47. IT IS FLAT-OUT PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR ISRAEL TO CARRY A SUCCESSFUL ATTACK

that would significantly degrade the Iranian nuclear program or Iranian military capabilities. It absolutely, positively cannot be done...unless they launched an overwhelming nuclear strike and no one is predicting that.

Israel's military capabilities simply do not include enough long range bombers and fighters to attack a country approximately 1000 miles away..that has protected much of its nuclear program and much of their military resources under North Korean style deep-earth shelters with heavily fortified bunkers.

They have that capability ONLY for countries in their near vicinity.

ONLY the United States has those military capabilites. And EVERYONE knows that such an attack by the United States would come at the cost of the destruction of much of the world's oil infrastructure and thus the destruction of the American economy and most of the global economy.

"

I think of war with Iran as the ending of America's present role in the world. Iraq may have been a preview of that, but it's still redeemable if we get out fast. In a war with Iran, we'll get dragged down for 20 or 30 years. The world will condemn us. We will lose our position in the world.

"

Zbigniew Brzezinski, Vanity Fair, 2006.

[Starry Messenger]

51. I hope not

My husband has relatives there, some he's never gotten to meet. :(

MPK

[annabanana]

52. My REACTION?. . . I'd bend over and

Kiss My Freckled Ass Goodbye

[reprehensor]

54. EXTREMELY NEGATIVE

I hope that people who don't want to see this happen are calling their Reps and letting them know that they do not sanction this aggression. Better yet, meet with your Reps and shake 'em down.

[old mark]

55. EXTREMELY POSITIVE.

Israelis live there, and they are obviously THE target of the Iranians longer range missiles. When they have had enough, they will just destroy Iranians ability to carry out their threats.

Israel has done this before and will do it again.
What's the problem?
Do you support Iran's idiot government?

mark

[baby_mouse]

61. mark

I think you need to consider the possibility that Iran won't use those weapons in an offensive capacity.

[Radical Activist]

65. Or that Israel has shown more military aggression than Iran

in recent history. If we're going to start invading countries for threatening their neighbors and having WMD's then why is Israel exempt?

[Radical Activist]

63. Then do you think that

the Soviet Union would have been justified in launching a preemptive attack against the US since we had missiles pointed at them? Doesn't your logic give every country in the world the right to attack the United States to take away our ability to carry out our threats? By your logic, Iran could preemptively attack Israel to destroy their ability to launch nuclear weapons.

[Douglas Carpenter]

68. I think one should reflect on the harm such an attack on Iran will bring on the Israeli people and

everyone else.

And the vast majority of Arab people fear and loathe the Iranian state just as much as the Israeli's. The vast majority of Arab people fear and loathe the Iranian state probably more than they fear the Israeli state. Still no one wants a war when they know that they will be by far the easiest target of Iranian rataliation, much more so than Israel.

An attack by Israel will almost certainly drag America and the Arab Gulf States who are only about 200 miles away from Iran into this unimaginable carnage.

Because, it is flat out physically impossible for Israel to carry out a successful attack on Iran that would significantly degrade the Iranian nuclear program or Iranian military capabilities. It absolutely, positively cannot be done...unless they launched an overwhelming nuclear strike and no one is predicting that.

Israel's military capabilities simply do not include enough long range bombers and fighters to attack a country approximately 1000 miles away..that has protected much of its nuclear program and much of their military resources under North Korean style deep-earth shelters with heavily fortified bunkers. Much of Iranian retaliatory mechanism includes an absolutely vast array of basic missiles deeply embedded in hostile and unapproachable terrain.

Israel only has the capability of a massive sustained attack for countries in their near vicinity.

ONLY the United States has the military capability for a sustained massive attack on Iran. And EVERYONE knows that such an attack by the United States would come at the cost of the destruction of much of the world's oil infrastructure and thus the destruction of the American economy and most of the global economy.

Iran does have a massive array of basic missiles more than capable of raining down real destruction on the oil tankers on the Gulf and the oil refineries and desalinization plants in the Gulf states thus crippling the world's oil supply and sending oil prices up to $300 to $400 per barrel thus collapsing the American economy and most of the world economy. Of course the damage inflicted by such weaponry on the U.S. Fleet in the Gulf would be enormous. The technology simply does not exist capable of stopping a massive retaliation from Iran.

I would suggest that everyone reflect on what it would mean for the Israeli people and everyone else if Israel launches such an attack. This will not be a quick little bombing raid that will be over the next day or the next week or the next month or the next year or the next decade.

I think of war with Iran as the ending of America's present role in the world. Iraq may have been a preview of that, but it's still redeemable if we get out fast. In a war with Iran, we'll get dragged down for 20 or 30 years. The world will condemn us. We will lose our position in the world.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, Vanity Fair, 2006.

[defendandprotect]

81. What's the problem with acts of aggression? What's the problem with attacking

someone who hasn't attacked you?

[harun]

82. Huh?

Israel has done this before and will do it again.

Like they took out Lebanon? Oh yah, they didn't.

[old mark]

88. Short history lesson: June 5, 1967 Israeli aircraft attacked Egypt

and destroyed more than 400 Egyptian aircraft on the ground. This began the 6 day war, which destroyed for several years the ability of several arabic nations surrounding Israel to attack Israel.
Israel gained control of a large amount of territory, and Egypt and Jordan eventually signed separate peace treaties with Israel, the only Arabic nations to do so to this date.

I have no doubt that similar circumstances now will yield similar results.

mark

[fascisthunter]

93. You Left Out Why those missiles are pointed toward Israel?

Iran is pointing them at Israel because Israel has been threatening an attack! They are rightfully setting up defenses against a possible pre-emptive strike. This is the result of years of saber rattling from the US and Israel both.

If every nation used your logic, we'd all have been extinct by now.

[tigersumtin]

58. Head to the local gas station

and fill up both cars, then head to the local grocery store and stock up the pantry. When it happens be prepared for a minimum $7 a gallon gas, and sky rocketing food prices......

[kentuck]

72. Don't expect my support...

You are on your own. It is your decision.

[High Plains]

83. Iran has a clear justification for a preemptive strike on Israel and the US.

They are threatening the country, the US is actively trying to overthrow the government. If anyone has a right to preemptive war, it's the Iranians. How do ya like them apples, Washington and Tel Aviv?

[PerfectSage]

85. Another war lost on the grand strategic/moral level.

Snicker. Don't those neo con clusterfucks ever learn from their mistakes?

[JerseygirlCT]

91. Shock, horror, fear...

and great sadness for everyone.